Sometimes I get so discouraged. What I thought was true turned out to be false. Our former church was a place where I thought people were glorifying God. I’m sure there are some people there who are true Christians, but the leadership is scary to me. At least two of the pastors are not preaching Christ, the others go along with it. The one who did speak up and worked to change things had been let go. They want to be a spiritual formation/seeker friendly/and whatever the emergent thing is lite (not NOT emergent?). They want what they are.
I feel a bit helpless, and I guess I am. I cannot save anyone myself, that’s God’s work. He chooses whom He chooses. I just hate seeing it happening, the sin of false teaching.
I have another problem, I have a new problem of trust. I cannot feel completely like I can trust preachers. I cannot trust church systems. I want to be able to walk into a church and know they are okay, they are preaching truth. I want to trust. I feel some trust in the newer church (and we’ve been going for a year and 1/2 now). However, I cannot commit to them in heart right now. (I have seen a few things that are problems…not related to doctrine or teaching but on a side note…and it has to do more with safety than anything not teaching/preaching/faith). I want to have a consistent place for my kids to go to worship. I want to be involved.
What has happened to me is a coldness. In our former church, it was all about community. We had small groups, activities, we were busy. We had adult conversation. We socialized. We did get frustrated, but we did enjoy being around the people. In the newer church (to us) we aren’t yet feeling connected to the people. It’s a good sermon, nice to see you, bye. I want some family there if I’m going to stick. We do have friends attending from the former church, but only a few we were close to. I’m not young anymore, and I don’t like starting over. I want long term friends. I’m lonely. Are we supposed to feel lonely in church?
Part of it is our fault. We don’t trust, we have busy lives with our kids. We haven’t completely dug in to this church. We’d just like to be invited over for a drink and cookies, some conversation, some connection. People are friendly, but we aren’t their friends.
Our former church had the group thing down. Small groups were an issue in that the bible study part was missing. I think there is nothing wrong with socializing with your church friends and getting together into groups, but small group studies were how bad teaching was spread further. Just getting together to socialize, well, that probably is actually a good thing. Getting together to study a book that has nothing to do with the gospel but makes you think it does, now that is wrong. We spent years trying to do bible study in these groups and were successful some of the time. The church kept pulling us into this or that book though…manditory for the whole church.
I’m discouraged on several levels I guess. I thought we would have feel more than superficial with friends at our newer church. I am also discouraged looking at the churches around our area. Many are into this seeker friendly/spiritual formation stuff. I guess I kind of feel like I would if I were in Utah. So many places preaching false doctrine. So many “nice” people, but sooooo thirsty for companionship/fellowship and also for the true gospel to be preached. At least I feel the preaching where we are is pretty good. Eventually, we’ll get through the human stuff and make friends. Right?
I am a C...I am a CH...I am a CHRISTIAN 
I pray that you will find a church home were you feel like this is were i belong. You will get through these. keep your eyes on jesus and rest leave in gods hand for he said i will never leave you or forsake you when it all seems hopeless that is when god will move be blessed
CL, it is easy to feel lonely in secularized America. Unfortunately, the church also is becoming increasingly secularized as the ideas of men replace the work of the Holy Spirit and the thoughts of men (books) replace the teaching of the Word (Bible).
I believe that the Prophet Amos wrote of the very time we live in, Amos 8:11-12:
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD,
“That I will send a famine on the land,Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,
But shall not find it.”
His is a sad commentary, not on the world, but on those who profess to believe (in our case, the church).
However, I do believe that there are many out there like your family (and ours) that feel the same way. The key, I believe, is to continue to trust in Christ and continue looking. God has always had a faithful remnant even in the most difficult of times. Pray that He would guide you to those of a like mind. Also, continue to arm yourselves with the truth; you just might run into someone who wants to hear it.
Grace and peace…
I feel you, sister. I keep saying I feel orphaned.
I can empathize. I “feel” the coldness too, but it only takes contact with another true believer for the coldness to turn to white hot passion and endless energy to talk of the wonders of our Savior.
I believe we are in a transitional time much like the early church when they were being put out of the synagogues. I don’t know what is to come, but we are being pushed out.
Also I take comfort that the religious leaders rejected the true Messiah, but the simple common people received Him.
God is opposed to the proud, but gives Grace to the humble.
Let us walk humbly with our God depending on Him for the understanding we need to walk through these dark days. They say it is always darkest before the dawn.
Surely He is coming for us soon!
Blessings to all who long for His appearing that we may behold Him and leave behind these bodies of sin and death.
Oh do I know what you mean!